[pct-l] Station Fire Closure

[Marion Davison]

Ate Tuna wrote:
> I just found this article:
>
> 3 million trees to be planted in Station fire burn
> area<http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-station-fire-20110415,0,7225022.story>
>
> <http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-station-fire-20110415,0,7225022.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews%2Flocal+%28L.A.+Times+-+California+|+Local+News%29>This
> may seriously change the character of the trail through this area.  I know
> it's not natural, but I do prefer hiking through pines than chapperal.  It
> also worries me that the project is slated to take 5 years.  If it's like a
> local replanting effort, that might mean the area being closed for over 5
> years to give the plantings time to establish themselves.  That's just
> speculation though.  If this is successful, I'd like to hike that section
> again in 20 years.
>
>
We were hiking in the spring in section C a year after the Butler Peak 
fire, not too long after the trail reopened.  There was a crew out 
planting trees along the trail corridor, and the trail was open for 
hiking.  I don't think the tree planting will be a factor in the 
decision to open or not.  I think the primary consideration will be 
safety.  Is the tread safe, and have the hazard trees been cleared so a 
burnt dead tree won't fall on a hiker?  If you have hiked through the 
Butler Peak fire area, say just south of Little Bear Springs Trail Camp, 
then you have seen the huge number of burnt trees that were felled by 
the forest service to prevent them from falling on their own schedule, 
on top of a hiker. Since each of us gets just one life, I have no 
problem with them taking the time to prevent some preventable deaths.